Marine Reptiles

Leatherback Sea Turtle Plastic Ingestion Crisis

Leatherback sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and die from gastrointestinal blockages, with plastic pollution now affecting nearly every individual in some populations.

Key Facts

Leatherbacks cannot distinguish plastic bags from jellyfish which are their primary food source
Studies find plastic debris in the majority of leatherback sea turtles examined post-mortem
Leatherbacks can dive to over 1,000 meters and travel 10,000 miles in annual migrations
They are the largest reptile in the world reaching up to 2,000 pounds and 8 feet in length

Welfare Considerations

Plastic ingestion causes a prolonged welfare crisis for leatherback turtles. Plastic blocks their digestive tract, creates false satiation reducing food intake, and causes internal injury as sharp fragments perforate intestinal walls. Death from plastic ingestion is slow and involves significant suffering. Leatherback populations are already threatened by egg collection and fishing bycatch, making plastic pollution an additional pressure on an already vulnerable species.

What You Can Do

Eliminate single-use plastic bags from your shopping and advocate for bans in your community
Participate in beach and coastal cleanups targeting plastic pollution
Support organizations working on ocean plastic removal and plastic pollution legislation
Never release balloons outdoors as they land in the ocean and are mistaken for jellyfish by turtles